I have a new Yamaha RX V2400.
I have been auditioning speakers when and if I can. Internet order only speakers I have been setting up auditioning when and where possible.
I probably will get Axiom.
Front mains will be M80, center VP150, surround QS8, and rears M3's.
The sub will be an SVS 20-39 PCi.
For amplifiers I've thought about a 5 channel and 2 channel or 3-2 channel or something of that order. I really don't want a 7 channel (rack only supports 90lbs per shelf)
I would like at least 300W per channel.
I've thought about used so I am watching the market but I am leaning strongly toward new.
Currently I have enough information to narrow my choices down to the following 3 brands
Adcom
Parasound
Sunfire
My price point for all 7 channels will be somewhere around $4k to $5K.
There are more and if someone feels that another brand will give me the performance I want for the money I have to expend Please comment.
Thanks...
Mark
Welcome, Mark. My comment is that you should get your speakers and listen to them for a considerable period of time without assuming that for some reason you need more power. The 2400 has very powerful amps and unless you play at deafening levels in a very large room, it should be sufficient.
Have you looked into
Odyssey amps?
On a side note, why did you buy an <$1000 receiver and they decide to add $4-5K of amps to it? That just doesn't make a lot of sense to me.
Incidentally, Mark, if you'd be interested in checking out the Axioms, an owner in Houston with M60s, VP150 and QS8s is listed on the audition thread.
I have a friend with a balanced ATI, sounds great. Theta Dreadnought is well thought of. Anthem M20 sounds terrific. If you could go the freight, I think BAT amps are incredibly good.
I've run a pair of M60 like front speakers with an Onkyo M504 - a high power 2 channel with 2 giant power meters on the front face. Most of the time, it shows it's putting out fewer than 10 watts per channel. During the really demanding passages I'm usually too involved to watch the meters, but I can't imagine it peaking at more than 100 watts per channel with any material even at close to reference volume levels. I used to use an Antem PVA-5 for the other 5 channels - I don't think you really need more than a real 100 wpc for the side and back surround channels especially driving fairly efficient speakers like Axioms.
There are folks on this board who will tell you that anyone who is familiar with basic electrical engineering would know that there's no audible difference between amps of equal power. I've owned enough amps to know that to my ears amps do make a difference.
BTW, for folks who are looking to do separates on a budget, I used 3 Onkyo M282 2 channel amps (120 wpc) with a Sony receiver as a processor and it sounded great. Picked up the M282s from ubid for a bit over $100 each.
Although i agree with JohnK, that under most circumstances the Yammy would provide plenty enough power for general use, a recent experience has still brought me back to the old adage, "buy as much power as you can comfortably afford".
Considering your free cash available and the idea that you want a multi-channel setup, the
Parasound Halo A51 might be something for you to peruse.
although i never heard them,i often drool at -cinepro-amps,moons of power and they get great reviews-,check them out ...ron
Not dealing with amps, but wouldnt a set of M2's make a better tonal match in the rear than the M3's? Just something to think about!
Nice setup youre going to have!
I have yet to hear it, but the Parasound HALO A51 is a 250w X 5 amp(but is 94 pounds). I am sure it has the Parasound quality and sound, but it also adds a damn nice look to it. Here are some pictures:
http://www.hometheaterspot.com/htsthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=522477&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=31&fpart=1
I am glad to see Parasound break away from their very bland look with the HALO line.
Are you really sure you need 300W/per channel even? That is a TON of power.
Mark - Since you will be using a Yamaha as a pre-amp I would avoid Parasound, and Adcom since they emphasize the "grain" on the top end on Yammies. Sunfire is an excellent choice along with the ATI mentioned, and I'll throw in B&K to boot for it's warm tube like sound. I'm currently running 7 B&K Reference 220M's in my theater, but also have a 2220, and a pair of ST 125.3's. Matched up with the M60, VP150, and QS4's it is a huge leap from any receiver I have heard. Be sure though to audition any amp from a reputable dealer in your theater first since that will be the only way for sure you will know what to go with.
In reply to:
Are you really sure you need 300W/per channel even? That is a TON of power.
There are times when one may actually need that sort of power. I run Magnepan speakers which are planer speakers which are rated at 4ohms and at 86db sensitivity. I power them with a Bryston 4B amp which is 250w at 8 ohms and 500w at 4ohms. Last night I was listening to the Dallas Wind Symphony Orchestra at loud level...not screaming levels in a 16x11 room(not big at all) and the Bryston red clipping light went on about 3 times during certain passages. Right now I could use one of those 300w per channel or more.
Saturn
I can't imagine needing an amp. The 2400 puts out 120 watts/channel. Of course it's debatable how much it can continuously put out on all channels simultaneously.
However Axiom speakers are quite efficient. The M80s are 91db (anechoic) and 95db (in room). As others said, anybody who has used a receiver/amp with power meters on fairly efficient speakers can testify the needles hardly budge off the pegs, except under extreme conditions.
Years ago I had an old Sansui 8080 receiver with front panel power meters. It drove efficient Pioneer HPM-100 speakers (bass reflex design). 0.05 watts was listenable, 0.1 watts was loud, 1 watt was extremely loud. Over 5 watts was punishing -- entire room would shake, and you could hear it outside two houses away.
If you want to make a real difference you'll hear, put your money into a nice SACD/DVD-A player and invest in high quality multichannel material. E.g. whether anybody can hear amp differences in a controlled double-blind test is often debated. But anybody can hear the difference between a stereo CD of Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon, and the 5.1 SACD version played on your system. The difference is simply vast, and likely not simply because of the high resolution sample rate. Rather doing a quality re-mix, quality transfer and going from 2 channels to surround makes the difference, at least when properly done on fitting material. You've described a nice system; I'd suggest getting material that fully utilizes it.
Likewise room acoustics can make a big difference. For the money you'd spend on amps you could do some acoustic treatment. Depending on your room, this could make a profound difference.
If you already have good room acoustics and lots of quality multichannel material, I guess you could get the amps if you like them.